Performers, Cast and Crew:

Product Description:

An examination of the author of such medieval romance classics as "Ivanhoe," "Rob Roy," and "The Legend of Montrose" through documents and portraits.

Plot Synopsis:

"Famous Authors" examines the men and women behind the words that brought them literary kudos. In "Sir Walter Scott," viewers learn how the Scottish novelist first took up poetry, only to be outshone by the verse of Byron. Scott turned instead to books. He drew from sources such as ballads, Scottish history and mythology, and medieval French romance to become a master of the historical novel. He demonstrated this prowess in works such as "Rob Roy" and "Ivanhoe." Unfortunately for Scott, a publishing company for which he served as partner dissolved in 1826. He wrote for the remainder of his life simply to settle his massive debts. He died six years later in 1832.